Betting on the Weather: Taking on Forecasters

As heavy snowfall heads to the US northwest, causing the most extreme Seattle weather conditions in decades, it reminds us of the option of placing a wager on various weather scenarios at online bookmakers.

Extreme Weather

William Hill Online is giving punters an entire year to claim on three unlikely British weather scenarios. The online sportsbook is offering 50/1 odds on the UK houses of parliament closing at some time during the year for weather-related issues. The possibility of Big Ben failing to chime due to being frozen solid is paying 100/1. And the more unlikely scenario in which the Thames is frozen solid between Tower Bridge and London Bridge is 200/1.

Over at Paddy Power, 2012 Specials are being offered on this year being the hottest, coldest, driest or wettest on record in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Early betting is also being taken on a White Christmas being seen in London or Dublin, with odds of 7/2 and 4/1 being offered respectively on the two capital cities.

Later in the year, William Hill, bet365, and all the other major online sportsbooks will once again offer their annual round of Christmas betting, with options on individual European cities and their chances of snow, rain and all other forms of extreme weather. These last few years have shown that anything is possible, and that the weather forecasters aren't always right.

Across the Pond

Of course, with restrictions on internet betting over in the United States there isn't quite as much online activity surrounding the goings-on there, but that hasn't stopped people from speculating about whether the National Weather Service and Seattle Times have got it right about this crazy winter up north.

Once the market opens up there, we will no doubt see online gambling providers offering odds on the NOAA weather predictions, with options on whether it will snow in New York and Seattle, rain in Miami, or whether hurricane-season will come early to the Midwestern states. Because just like sports, the weather has an element of unpredictability that makes it perfect for the average punter.